Happy B-Day, Happy V-Day!
by Suzanne on February 14th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Heart to Heart by Ione Rucquoi
Happy birthday to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and happy Valentine’s Day to all you lovers, haters, saints and sinners.
Here are Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking singing you a friendly song of sweet intergalactic love:
Next up is RocketToTheSky spreading a little forest love to fellow city dwellers:
And finally, let’s give it up for the Danish police force handing out bike helmets and love like it’s 2009:
Oh, and if you’re bored and ronery, make sure to check out last year’s WurzelValentineSpecial®.
Have a lovely day everyone!
So much love & monkey brains to each and every single one of you.
And remember, there’s no love without a little pain..
From New Photography in China by John Millichap (ed.) - click to enlarge
xox
Suzanne
Daphne Wright at Frith Street Gallery, London
by Suzanne on February 13th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Primate by Daphne Wright, marble dust, onyx, resin, paint, and silk embroidery, 14.5 H x 76 L x 46.5 W cm, 2009 - click to enlarge
I usually refrain from attending exhibitions that are all about “letting the works breathe” and “showing the interaction between exhibit and architectural surrounding” because it normally just means that the curators who couldn’t be bothered to fly more artworks in try to sell you a show as being all zen and stuff when there’s really just a super pretentious nihil gaping in the middle of a giant concrete gallery cube.
In the case of Frith Street Gallery’s Daphne Wright exhibition however, I must admit that I’m very glad I made an exception. Yes, there were only two works on show (apart from a series of obscure drawings and an awkward video installation in their super Doomesque downstairs room), but their presence was magnificent and yes, the unfinished architecture of the place is stunning and very inspiring indeed.
Stallion by Daphne Wright, marble dust and resin, 160 H x 380 L x 140 W cm, 2009, edition of 2
I must say though that these two installation views do Daphne’s work zero justice. Her Stallion has the icy shine of marble dust and seems frozen and conserved yet so very potent and virile and her Primate’s fur is hand-embroidered with the most surreal shimmery and exquisitely silky silver thread and you really just want to lie down on the gallery floor and become statuesque yourself - become part of a magical triangle between horse, monkey, man.
Daphne Wright’s Traits of Sidney is on show until the end of the month. Please note that Frith Street Gallery isn’t on Frith Street, but very close to Piccadilly Circus. Further details below.
On show: January 14 - February 27, 2010
Address: Frith Street Gallery, 17–18 Golden Square, London, W1F 9JJ, UK | Map
Gallery hours: Tue - Fri: 10 AM - 6 PM | Sat: 11 AM - 5 PM
Mark Ryden’s Lincoln Day Sale
by Suzanne on February 12th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Incarnation by Mark Ryden, oil on panel, 72 x 48 inches, 2009 - click to enlarge
Ah, I like etymologically correct art.
This just in for Rydenophiles: In celebration of Abe Lincoln’s 201st birthday which we’re celebrating today, Porterhouse Fine Art Editions are holding a one-day only sale with 50% off their entire online shop range.
Sale ends tonight midnight PST. Which is Pacific Standard Time, FYI, not an angry request to STFU.
In other news, congrats to Len for winning the last competition! Weeee! Rosemarie Trockel’s Replace Me was of course based on Courbet’s L’origine du monde from 1866. Well done! Your present is on its way.
Next up is the Quote of the Day. This time it’s by my partner in crime bones, Alex CF, and was uttered while playing Dante’s Inferno:
“I don’t want to swim around, I want to fucking kill things.”
Beautiful.
And finalemente, my unsolicited two pennies on an occurrence that in the past 24 hours has been emetically exploited by the fashion blogosphère:
When will the world learn that those who write their own requiems eventually die?!
Kate Moss hologram from Alexander McQueen AW06 show
It’s not even sad, it just… consequence and logic. It’s so relative how, when (and even if ever) the creativity of ones lifetime unfolds; to say that McQueen was too young to die is so very presumptuous and insulting looking at his ripe oeuvre.
He doesn’t owe us anything, anymore. In my eyes, he was a 230-year-old noble yet permanently hungry fashion vampire who has seen it all before - the decadent gluttony, the insane grandeur, the ethereal beauty, the auratic melancholy - and it’s this what became his creation. It’s not going to go away. So just let him go now, please.
Animism at Extra City Antwerp, Belgium
by Suzanne on February 9th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
An entire A4 page of unintelligible, pretentious blather disguised as a clever press release really shouldn’t keep you from visiting Animism - a long-term touring exhibition loosely based around the idea of… errr… uhmm… the technological/digital renaissance of animism?! o_O
Because, after all, we all like dancing skeletons…
Silly Symphonies - The Skeleton Dance by Walt Disney, 1929
… and spiders on crotches… no?!
Replace Me by Rosemarie Trockel, 2009 - click to enlarge
… oh, and did I mention that remote-controlled pigeons (yes, I know “buse” is Frenchistani for buzzard, but this rendering looks way more pigeony than buzzardy to me, so shuuuuush!) will be on show too?
Buse volant avec l’appareil qui signale les mouvements décrits par l’extrémité de son aile by Étienne-Jules Marey, 1886 - click to enlarge
À propos pigeons or buzzards dressed like pigeons, this painfully poetic sequence from C’est arrivé près de chez vous featuring Benoît Poelvoorde needs to be watched at least once a week day (preferably under the parental guidance and watchful eyes of Dr. med. Klav):
Oh, and least we forget the obligatory art historical question (very basic level this time): Which infamous painting is Rosemarie Trockel’s artwork Replace Me (see above) based on? Artist, title, date, please. Once again, you will win a random item from my smelly ‘ol Drawer ov Doom. First correct answer in the comments section wins. Good luck.
Oh, and congrats to Sir Dave C for solving yesterday’s conundrum: Glenn Brown’s Spearmint Rhino is of course based on Francisco de Zurbarán’s Agnus Dei.
Gods, this blog is so informative! 
Anyway, exhibition details for Animism below.
On show: January 22 - May 2, 2010
Address: Extra City – Kunsthal Antwerpen, Tulpstraat 79, 2060 Antwerp, BELGIUM, tel: +32 (0)3 677 1655 | Map
Gallery hours: Wed - Sun: 2 - 7 PM
Preview | Exhibition guide (PDF)
Glenn Brown at Ludwig Museum, Budapest
by Suzanne on February 8th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Star Dust by Glenn Brown, oil on panel, 2009
The Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art in my beloved town of Budapest who was unhelpful enough to provide me with zero press material, is apparently hosting a Glenn Brown exhibition.
It opened yesterday and Glenn’s works will be on show until April 11, 2010.
Spearmint Rhino by Glenn Brown, oil on panel, 2009 - click to enlarge
Only three works are featured in the exhibition preview, but I assume/hope it’s going to be a bit more epic than that. Sew sue me if not.
Oh, and buy his Tate Liverpool exhibition catalogue. It’s worth every forint.
Bonus question for fellow art history nerds: Which 17th century religious artwork (title and artist, per favore) is Spearmint Rhino based on? First correct commentator(ess) wins.. uhmm… some random thing from my Drawer ov Dooooom. Yay!
On show: February 6 - April 11, 2010
Address: Ludwig Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art, Palace of Arts, Komor Marcell u. 1, Budapest, H-1095, HUNGARY, tel: +36 1 555 3444 | Map
Gallery hours: Tue - Sun: 10 AM - 8 PM
Admission: Free last Sunday of every month
Literature: Glenn Brown Catalogue by Francesco Bonami and Laurence Sillars (newer editions have a much nicer cover)
… and in completely unrelated news, here’s a rare appearance of Blondie as Blackie in a Hans-Ruedi Gigeresque environment:
Blondie (via All Things Amazing) - click to enlarge
Meow.
Marcel Dzama at Musée d’art contemporain, Montréal, CAN
by Suzanne on February 7th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Untitled by Marcel Dzama, 1999 - click to enlarge
The great magical Winnipeg-born Marcel Dzama - previously mentioned here - has a new solo show in Montréal, Canada, entitled Aux Mille Tours / Of Many Turns.
Diogenes by Marcel Dzama, 2007 - click to enlarge
The exhibition has only just opened at the Musée d’art contemporain and will be on show until April 25, 2010.
Suitcase With Three Heads by Marcel Dzama, 2007 - click to enlarge
If you’ve never heard of Marcel Dzama and/or can’t make it to Montréal on such short notice, then this great little video he recently made for The Department of Eagles might help you understand his visual universe:
And yes, Marcel sure owes the National Chinese Ballet a big cut of his sales.
On show: February 4 - April 25, 2010
Address: Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, 185 Sainte-Catherine Ouest (corner Jeanne-Mance), Montréal, Québec, H2X 3X5, CANADA | Map
Gallery hours: Tue - Sun: 11 AM - 6 PM, Wed: 11 AM - 9 PM
Admission: $10 - free admission every Wednesday evening from 5 - 9 PM
Gregor Gaida at Galerie Adler, Frankfurt
by Suzanne on February 6th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Drummer by Gregor Gaida, painted and sprayed wood, aluminium, 2008
Gregor Gaida’s raw talent for sculpture that seems to throb, pulsate, vibrate and scream is deeply captivating.
His works don’t look like sculptures to me, but more like powerful bodies with their contracted muscles and protruding sinews frozen in time and space.
These guys could start running, drumming, drawing or waving flags any second now and I wouldn’t even be surprised.
Rest von Schwarz by Gregor Gaida, painted wood, polyester resin, iron, plastic foil, 2008
Gregor’s Sum of Stories is on show at Galerie Adler in Frankfurt, Germany, through March 6, 2010.
Further details below.
Kind und Kreide III by Gregor Gaida, painted polyester resin, 2008
On show: January 16 - March 6, 2010
Address: Galerie Adler Frankfurt, Hanauer Landstraße 134, 60314 Frankfurt, Germany, +49 (0)69-4305396
Gallery hours: Tue - Fri: 12 - 6 PM, Sat: 11 AM - 3 PM
Calling London Creatives
by Suzanne on February 5th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Right, so, as I mentioned in a previous post, I recently came to the conclusion that it’s about time for me to get my own little space for art and exhibitions.
I know this is not going to happen from one day to another and I’m also fully aware of all the competition around and the dire economic times, but heck, this is as good or bad as any time to start a business when you put a mind as determined as mine to it and if I never try, I will never know.
I have been wanting to get a shop/show room for a long time now and I know that I’m not the only one with such grand hopes but zero cash.
So here I am, asking you, fellow (preferably East) London creative/artist/designer/utopian to join forces with me and share a space for creative endeavours with me.
I’m looking particularly (but not exclusively) for:
- An artist in need of a studio
- A (fashion) designer in need of a shop space
- A creative hairdresser in need of a salon
- An (art) book/mag/graphic novel nerd/collector in need of a book shop
- A restaurateur in need of a small café
- A combination of the above
- Someone who already owns a space with a creative direction and wants to rent parts of it out
So if you’re any of the above or know of someone who is and if you have been wanting to have a space of your own for a while and are committed, trustworthy, hardworking and willing to make human sacrifices, please do get in touch so that we can discuss everything over a few cups of hazelnut soy latte.
Yum.
With love & monkey brains,
Suzanne
Ron Mueck at National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
by Suzanne on February 5th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Gautier Deblonde’s impression of Ron Mueck’s London studio while he was preparing for his exhibition at the Fondation Cartier in Paris.
Ron Mueck really doesn’t like small things. Maybe he’s hyperopic or maybe he was born a giant’s baby and then shrunken down to human size in order not to terrify his kindergarten teacher.
At any rate, while there is plenty of art out there that can be more or less satisfyingly reproduced digitally, there are beyond doubt art genres that will forever resist the Benjaminesque “Reproduzierbarkeit”, because, quite apparently, if you work in as gigantonormous a scale as Ron Mueck, your work will have to be physically experienced to be understood and appreciated.
Gautier Deblonde’s impression of Ron Mueck’s London studio
I always found it strangely amusing that his exhibition catalogue is one of the smallest books in the National Gallery bookshop.
So if you happen to be in Australia, don’t miss this touring exhibition. It’s on in Melbourne and will travel on to Queensland Art Gallery and finally to Christchurch Art Gallery. More details below.
Gautier Deblonde’s impression of Ron Mueck’s London studio
On show: January 22 - April 18, 2010
Address: NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia, tel: +61 3 8620 2222
Gallery hours: Wed - Mon: 10 AM - 5 PM
Admission: $15.00
Movies: Making-of In Bed | Unpacking the Two Women
Special events during the exhibition
Medicine And Art at Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
by Suzanne on February 5th, 2010 | BBC Wikipedia
Skeleton Performing Zazen on Waves by Maruyama Okyo, c.1787, ink on paper, Daijoji Temple, Hyogo, Japan
So yes… looks like we’re back after.. Christ.. half a year?! o_O
Things will be a bit wobbly here to start with until I get the hang of it all again, but I have a lot planned and around 28968758375 bookmarks filled with exquisite eye candy and plenty of the ever useful Wurzeltod® household wisdom to last until the Apolapoclapocalypse which will take place in exactly… *checks iCal* … two years. Yay!
I have also been doing quite a lot of thinking (yes, it hurt like hell!) since the beginning of the new year and I came to the conclusion that even though the WurzelAlmanacs™ project will happen one fine day, having an exhibition space is more important to me. So I’m currently looking for UK creatives who are in the same boat, i.e. imploding with ideas and desperately wanting to open a space/studio/shop/salon but lacking the cash monehs.
I will find you and things will be awesome.
Anyways, on to some recent exhibitions on this lovely planet that are worth visiting. Some of the shows I announced over on Tumblr are still running, btw, so go have a look what’s on in your area.
Life before Death - Elmira Sang Bastian, 14th January 2004/23rd March 2004 by Walter Schels, 100 x 100 cm each
First up is Medicine and Art at Mori Art in Tokyo where good old Monsieur Henry Wellcome from up in Euston shares some of his breathtaking collection with the Japanistani who always had a very refined taste in and unquenchable thirst for the medically macabre.
And who could blame them?
Installation view Medicine and Art: Imagining a Future for Life and Love at Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
The poetically entitled Medicine and Art: Imagining a Future for Life and Love will remain on show until the end of February.
L’Hospice / The Nursing Home by Gilles Barbier, 2002. Six wax figures, television, various elements, dimension variable (installation view)
On show: November 28, 2009 - February 28, 2010
Address: Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower (53F), 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, JAPAN, Tel: +81-3-5777-8600 (HELLO DIAL) | Map
Gallery hours: Wed - Mon: 10 AM - 10 PM, Tue: 10 AM - 5 PM
Admission: ¥1,500